The National Folic Acid Awareness Week concluded January 14, but Florida will continue to get the word out about the importance of the vitamin with its own awareness week February 6-10.

The week is organized by the Florida Folic Acid Coalition to encourage women to get the daily recommended dose of folic acid, a synthetic form of the B vitamin folate. Folic acid is important because it reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects, among other health benefits.

Because nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned, it’s important for all women of childbearing age to get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. It is found in most multivitamins and some foods.